The arrest of a suspect linked to the leak of classified US intelligence documents that were posted online was announced by Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday.
After a search that lasted several days, 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, was taken into custody by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The documents, which included information about the Ukraine war, US surveillance activities, and Israeli intelligence, were allegedly posted on Discord.
Teixeira, believed to be the leader of the group responsible for posting the classified documents, will be formally charged in federal court after his appearance on Friday.
Thousands of individuals had access to classified information, but officials narrowed the search down to chat groups that contained forensic evidence linking the leaked documents to the suspected leaker. The suspect had been under surveillance for at least two days before his arrest. The US Air Force, which released service details of Teixeira, revealed that he joined the service in September 2019 and is an enlisted Airman 1st Class working as a Cyber Transport Systems journeyman. This role involves ensuring that the Air Force’s global communications network is operating correctly.
The Washington Post reported that the leaker was employed at a military base and shared the documents with a group of individuals who shared a love of guns and military gear on Discord. The suspected leaker was described as a young, lonely gun enthusiast who had a fascination with the military, guns, and war. Some fellow students at the school he attended reported feeling uneasy around him due to his behavior and interests. The investigation into the leak is ongoing, and more information will be shared at the appropriate time, according to Attorney General Garland.
